Drapery supporting device



April 30, 1957 F. x. GANTER 2,790,197

DRAPERY SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May e, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4/ If 22 27 IP INVENTOR: Manx Gwvzaie April 30, 1957 F. x. GANTER 2,790,197

DRAPERY SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: flame/5'26, GAIWZB AGENT United States Patent F DRAPERY SUPPORTING DEVICE Francis X. Ganter, Culver City, Calif.

Application May 6, 1953, Serial No. 353,409

8 Claims. (Cl. 16-94) This invent-ion relates generally to holders, brackets and similar supporting devices, and is concerned more particularly with a hanger means for supporting draperies. Specifically, the invention pertains to a drapery rod device for supporting draperies of the draw type to adapt them to be traversed across and from a window.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a practical and inexpensive hanger which is designed for use in supporting relatively heavy draperies and one which is extremely simple in construction and convenien-t to install at awindow by one not especially skilled in such work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drapery hanger means, of the character referred to, which includes a head board or other foundation adapted to be secured along the upper cross member of a window frame, and a pair of rods from which the draperies are suspended by means of slide elements slidable along the rods. As a particular featureof improvement, the adjacent ends of the rods of each pair are offset laterally with respect to each other at the center of the head board so that the inner ends of the draperies may be drawn past each other to cause them to overlap. By this provision, the draperies are caused to positively close at the center of the window to avoid a slit or narrow openin-g therebetween.

A further object is to provide a hanger means, of the class referred to, in which each of the traverse rods has upwardly offset end portions which are adapted to be clamped against the under side of the head board. As a particular feature of my invention, the ends of the red are bent back upon themselves to form overlying offset terminal portions, the latter converging with respect to the underlying portions of the rod. In accordance with the present concept, special devices are provided for clamping the angularly extending terminal portions firmly against the head board so as to alsodraw the underlying portions of the rod upwardly and thus cause the rod to flex or bow upwardly throughout the major portion of its length. By this provision, each rod is tensioned in an upward direction so that any tendency of the heavy suspended drapery to cause downward bowing or sagging of the rod, as the draperies are drawn toward the center, is effectively resisted, the weight of the drapery merely flexing the rod downwardly toward a straight horizontal line.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and from the drawings, which illustrate several preferred forms of construction, by way of example. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the drapery support or hanger rod and slide element-s mounted thereon; a

Fig. 2 is a front view of a pair of the hanger rods and associated parts carried by a head board which, in turn, is mounted against a window frame;

' Fig. 3 is a [bottom plan view of the device shown in 2? 2,790,197 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the rods as unfiexed under the weight of the draperies;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the device, as observed in the direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a drapery hanger device used in connection with a curtain hanger and Venetian blind supported within a cornice;

Fig. 9 is a further enlarged cross-sectional View, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a front view of the drapery hanger device, showing traverse cords and pulleys for the draperies;

Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views of traverse rods of alternative construction; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the slide elements.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7, my improved drapery supporting device is adapted for use in connection with a window having a frame 15 provided with a window opening 16. 'In the form illustrated in these views, the drapery supporting means consists of a pair of rods and 21 which are carried by a head board 22. The head board 22. is suitably mounted against the upper cross member of the window frame 15, for example, by means of angular brackets 23 and screws 24.

The hanger rods 20 and 21 are similar, each having a normally straight central portion 25 and an inner end portion 26 which is bent back upon itself, that is, upwardly and then substantially horizontally to provide an inner foot 27 which overlies the end portion 26. it is to be noted that the foot 27 slopes downwardly in convergent relation to the end portion 26, for the purpose to be later explained. The opposite or outer end portion 29 of each rod 20 and 21 is arcuate and extends toward the window frame when in use. The terminal of the outer curved end portion 29 is bent back upon itself to provide an outer foot 30 disposed above the plane of the rod and converging toward the same Mounted to slide along the rods 2% and 21 are slide elements 33 which, as shown in Fig. 13, have tubular portions 34 and opposite depending ears 35. The tubular portion 34 has a close, but freely sliding fit on the rod 20 or 21 and the ears 35 have aligned holes 36 for receiving one of the conventional wire books 37 (Fig. 8) by which a drapery 38 is suspended. While it is within the present concept to mold the slide elements from plastic material, it has been found advantageous to make it from thin sheet metal stock which is simply cut from a strip, punched and bent to the form illustrated in a single operation. As shown in Fig. 13, the lower corners of one car 35 are cut away and the corresponding corners of the other ear are folded over the an-gularly cut corners of the first ear, as indicated at 39, to hold the sides together and to avoid sharp corners which might catch in the drapery fabric.

The rods 20 and 21 are secured in place against the under surface of the head board 22 by means of brackets or clamping elements 40 and screws 41. Each clamping element consists of a rectangular plate having a central threaded hole for receiving a said screw 41. The clamping plate 40 has a pair of parallel channel-like recesses 42 arranged at opposite sides of the threaded hole, these recesses being adapted to receive one or both of the rods 26 and 21 as required. As shown in Fig. 9, the end edges of each clamping element 40, between the recesses 42, are bent upwardly as indicated at 43 so as to provide a central portion of substantially channel-shaped cross sectional shape to increase the strength and rigidity of the element.

To assemble the drapery hanger device, which is refered to as a drapery foundation in the trade, the brackets 23 are fastened to the head board 22 and holes drilled through the board to receive the screws 41, after which the drapery rods and 21 may be mounted in place. To apply the rods to the headboard 22, they are placed in the positions shown in Figs. 2 to 4 with their bent legs 36 and 27 resting against the under surface of the head board. Each of the outer legs is secured to the board 22 by means of one of the clamping elements 44) which engage upwardly thereagainst with the leg positioned in one of the grooves or recesses 42. One of the screws 41 is then inserted through a hole in the head board 22 and its lower end is screwed into the hole in the clamping element to draw the latter upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 7, so as to clamp the leg 30 firmly against the board.

The inner legs 27 of the rods 20 and 21 are then clamped against the under side of the head board 22 in a similar manner but in this case the legs 27 of both rods are clamped by means of a single clamping element 40. That is to say, the adjacent inner ends 26 of the rods overlap each other as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 with the legs 27 lying in parallel, side-by-side relation and disposed in the recesses 42 of the clamping element 46, see Fig. 6. A screw 41 engaging in the hole of the element 46 acts to draw the element upwardly to clamp the ends 27 firmly against the head board 22.

It is important to note that as the clamping elements 4% are drawn upwardly, the normally downwardly sloping legs 27 and 30 of the rods 26 and 21 are caused to assume a horizontal position against the head board 22. Consequently, the portions of the rods intermediate their ends 26 and 29 are caused to bow or flex upwardly as shown in Fig. 2.

The drapery foundation is then ready for use and is applied against the window frame 15 by means of the brackets 23 and screws 24. The draperies 38 are then hung from the rods 20 and 21 by means of the hooks 37 which are suspended from the slide elements 33. With the draperies 38 thus supported by the rods 20 and 21, they may be drawn together at the center of the window to close the same and slid apart to uncover the window. Due to the overlapping inner ends 26 of the rods 20 and 21, when the draperies are drawn together their adjacent edges also overlap so as to assure complete closing and avoid a vertical opening or slit between the draperies. The slide elements 33 are designed for free sliding movement on the rods so that effortless opening and closing of the draperies is made possible. Due to the fact that the rods 28 and 21 are bowed upwardly and thus tensioned, they are capable of supporting heavy draperies without sagging. That is to say, when the draperies are drawn toward each other and their weight is thus distributed along the unsupported central portions of the rods, the rods may be deflected downwardly from their upwardly bowed condition shown in Fig. 2 to the susbtantially straight horizontal condition illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus, the draperies hang evenly at all times and this is an important improvement over prior drapery supporting devices in which saying of the rod or rods is possible.

The drapery foundation as thus far described may be mounted on the window frame as explained, the head board serving as a shelf upon which ornamental objects may be placed. In order to conceal the rods 20 and 21, a fabric or other valance may be tacked to the forward and end edges of the head board as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In other instances, the head board may form the upper part of a cornice structure 46,. in which case curtains 47 may be suspended from a curtain rod 48 supported by hangers 49. The cornice head board 22 may be releasably clamped between the resilient jaws 52 and 53 of mounting members 54 which, in turn, are carried by the end members 55 of a channel-like holder 56 for a Venetian blind 57, the end members being mounted against the window frame 15 by screws 58. The mounting members are of the type disclosed and claimed in my 4 application, Serial No. 318,637, filed November 4, 1952 for Venetian Blind Structure, now abandoned. If desired, the draperies 38 may be traversed to closed and open positions by draw cords 60 which extend around small pulleys 61 carried by the head board 22, as shown in Fig. 10.

An alternative drapery supporting rod 65 is shown in Fig. 11 as having a straight central portion 66, an inner reversely bent leg 67 and an outer, angularly extending end portion 68 terminating in a leg 69. The leg 67 is similar to the leg 27 of the rods 2t) and 21 but the leg 69 extends normal to the central portion 66, as distinguished from the leg 30 which is angularly related to the central portion 25 as viewed in plan (Fig. 3).

The modified drapery supporting rod 70 illustrated in Fig. 12 has a central portion 71, an inner, reversely bent leg 72 and an outer, reversely bent leg 73. As in the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 11, the legs slope downwardly toward the central portion so as to tension the rod when the legs are secured fiat against the under side of the head board. In the structures of Figs. 1 and 11, the rod is held against turning on the axis of the central portion by reason of the engagement of the legs 30 and 69 against the head board. In the modified structure of Fig. 12, this desirable result is effected by means of right-angularly bent fingers 74 and 75 at the ends of the respective portions 72 and 73, these fingers extending in opposite directions and being adapted to rest against the head board.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together with the devices which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the invention may be carried out by further modified means.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drapery supporting device, comprising: a hori zontal head board; a drapery supporting rod extending longitudinally of the head board therebeneath, said rod having a central portion and end portions which are offset upwardly from the central portion and inclined with respect thereto; and clamping plates on the under side of the head board, said plates having grooves receiving said end portions and adapted to clamp said end portions upwardly fiat against the head board, so as to cause upward bowing of said central portion.

2. A drapery supporting device, comprising: a horizontal head board; a drapery supporting rod extending longitudinally of the head board therebeneath, said rod having a central portion and end portions extending upwardly and provided with feet overlying the central portion in spaced relation thereto, said feet normally sloping downwardly toward said central portion; and clamping plates on the under side of the head board, said plates having grooves receiving said feet and operative to clamp the same upwardly, flat against the head board, so as to cause upward bowing of said central portion.

3. A drapery supporting device, comprising: a horizontal head board; a drapery supporting rod extending longitudinally of the head board therebeneath, said rod having a central portion and end portions extending upwardly and provided with feet overlying the central portion in spaced relation thereto, said feet normally sloping downwardly toward said central portion; and clamping plates on the under side of the head board, said plates having grooves receiving said feet and operative to clamp the same upwardly, flat against the head board, so as to cause upward bowing of said central portion, at least one of said feet extending in a vertical plane which intersects the axis of said central portion so as to prevent rotation of the rod.

4. A drapery supporting device, comprising: a horizontal head board; a drapery supporting rod extending longitudinally of the head board therebeneath, said rod having a central portion and end portions extending upwardly and provided with feet overlying the central portion in spaced relation thereto, said feet normally sloping downwardly toward said central portion; and clamping plates on the under side of the head board, said plates having grooves receiving said feet and operative to clamp the same upwardly, fiat against the head board, so as to cause upward bowing of said central portion, at least one of said feet extending in a vertical plane which is substantially normal to the axis of said central portion so as to prevent rotation of the rod.

5. A drapery supporting rod, consisting of an elongate central portion from which draperies can be suspended, and foot portions at the ends of said central portion, said foot portions extending upwardly and laterally in overlying relation to the central portion and sloping downwardly toward the same.

6. A drapery supporting rod, consisting of an elongate central portion from which draperies can be suspended, and foot portions at the ends of said central portion, said foot portions extending upwardly and laterally in overlying relation to the central portion and sloping downwardly toward the same, at least one of said foot portions extending in a vertical plane intersecting the axis of said central portion.

7. A drapery supporting rod, consisting of an elongate central portion from which draperies can be suspended, and loop portions at the ends of said central portion, said loop portions extending upwardly and laterally with their terminal portions overlying said central portion in spaced relation thereto, "said terminal portions sloping downwardly toward said central portion.

8. A drapery supporting device, comprising: a horizontal head board; a pair of drapery supporting rods extending longitudinally beneath said board, each rod having a central portion, 'an inner loop portion providing an inner foot disposed in the vertical plane of the central portion and overlying the latter in spaced relation thereto, said foot sloping downwardly toward the central portion, each rod also having an outer loop portion providing an outer foot disposed in a vertical plane which intersects the axis of said central portion, said outer foot being spaced above said axis and sloping downwardly toward the same, said rods being arranged with their said inner and outer feet against the under side of the head board and with their said inner feet disposed in parallel, sideby-'side, overlapping relation; clamping plates each having a pair of grooves for receiving said feet of said rods, said outer fioot of each rod being clamped against said board by a said clamping plate and the inner overlapping feet of both rods being clamped by a single clamping 'pl-ate extending transversely thereof; and screw means on "the head board operative to draw said plates upwardly toward the board so as to clamp all of said legs flat thereagainst and thus effect upward bowing of the central portions of both rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 426,682 Plume Apr. 29, 1890 428,085 Friedman May 20, 1890 442,565 Barrager Dec. 9, 1890 443,514 Gilbert Dec. 30, 1890 739,554 Mays Sept. 22, 1903 856,592 Laughlin et al June 11, 1907 1,002,063 Jasper Aug. 29, 1911 1,077,027 Austin Oct. 28, 1913 1,239,919 Kirsch Sept. 11, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,939 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1928 

